{"title":"Manufacturing a low-carbon geopolymer self-sensing composite for intelligent structure","authors":"Dongyu Wang, Zuhua Zhang, Siqi Ding, Chaolie Ning, Cheng Shi, Xiaoqing Liu, Qiang Ren, Zhengwu Jiang","doi":"10.1007/s42114-025-01462-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The advancement of smart building and infrastructure has increased the demand for intelligent materials with highly sensitive structural health monitoring (SHM) function. This study reports a high cost-effective strategy of manufacturing geopolymer self-sensing composites (GSCs) with high strength and sensitivity yet low carbon footprint. The effects of the precursor composition and conductive fillers, i.e., nano carbon black (NCB) and copper coated steel fiber (CSF), on the mechanical and electrical properties were investigated. To achieve high and stable sensitivity, the self-sensing behaviors and underlying mechanisms of hybrid NCB and CSF reinforced GSCs were examined through multiscale microstructural analyses. Pore structures were systematically analyzed using nitrogen adsorption desorption (NAD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT), while interface microstructure was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results indicate that the hybrid NCB and CSF system forms a three-dimensional reinforcing and continuous conductive network within the cross-linked SiO₄ and AlO₄ tetrahedral framework. This synergistic effect significantly enhances the self-sensing performance of GSCs by refining the nanopore structure, improving conductive pathway connectivity, enhancing ductility at low strain levels, and maintaining structural stability under high strain. An optimal GSC mixture composed of 60% ground granulated blast furnace slag, 25% metakaolin, and 15% silica fume manufactured in this study achieved a maximum gauge factor of 3853.4, representing an order-of-magnitude improvement in sensitivity compared to the Portland cement–based counterpart. GSCs demonstrated high potential for SHM application, providing an innovative material manufacturing strategy for next-generation intelligent structure.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7220,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials","volume":"8 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":21.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s42114-025-01462-3.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42114-025-01462-3","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The advancement of smart building and infrastructure has increased the demand for intelligent materials with highly sensitive structural health monitoring (SHM) function. This study reports a high cost-effective strategy of manufacturing geopolymer self-sensing composites (GSCs) with high strength and sensitivity yet low carbon footprint. The effects of the precursor composition and conductive fillers, i.e., nano carbon black (NCB) and copper coated steel fiber (CSF), on the mechanical and electrical properties were investigated. To achieve high and stable sensitivity, the self-sensing behaviors and underlying mechanisms of hybrid NCB and CSF reinforced GSCs were examined through multiscale microstructural analyses. Pore structures were systematically analyzed using nitrogen adsorption desorption (NAD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT), while interface microstructure was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results indicate that the hybrid NCB and CSF system forms a three-dimensional reinforcing and continuous conductive network within the cross-linked SiO₄ and AlO₄ tetrahedral framework. This synergistic effect significantly enhances the self-sensing performance of GSCs by refining the nanopore structure, improving conductive pathway connectivity, enhancing ductility at low strain levels, and maintaining structural stability under high strain. An optimal GSC mixture composed of 60% ground granulated blast furnace slag, 25% metakaolin, and 15% silica fume manufactured in this study achieved a maximum gauge factor of 3853.4, representing an order-of-magnitude improvement in sensitivity compared to the Portland cement–based counterpart. GSCs demonstrated high potential for SHM application, providing an innovative material manufacturing strategy for next-generation intelligent structure.
期刊介绍：
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials is a leading international journal that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration among materials scientists, engineers, chemists, biologists, and physicists working on composites, including nanocomposites. Our aim is to facilitate rapid scientific communication in this field.
The journal publishes high-quality research on various aspects of composite materials, including materials design, surface and interface science/engineering, manufacturing, structure control, property design, device fabrication, and other applications. We also welcome simulation and modeling studies that are relevant to composites. Additionally, papers focusing on the relationship between fillers and the matrix are of particular interest.
Our scope includes polymer, metal, and ceramic matrices, with a special emphasis on reviews and meta-analyses related to materials selection. We cover a wide range of topics, including transport properties, strategies for controlling interfaces and composition distribution, bottom-up assembly of nanocomposites, highly porous and high-density composites, electronic structure design, materials synergisms, and thermoelectric materials.
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials follows a rigorous single-blind peer-review process to ensure the quality and integrity of the published work.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
